Do Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committees keep the administration on its toes and inspire reverence for parliamentary control? Evaluate the working of such committees with suitable examples. (UPSC 2021, 15 Marks, )

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Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committees play a crucial role in ensuring accountability and oversight of the administration. They help in keeping the government on its toes and inspire reverence for parliamentary control.

The Role of Parliamentary Standing Committees in Ensuring Accountability

• Oversight Mechanism: These committees play a vital role in keeping the administration accountable through continuous scrutiny of policies and expenditure. Regular questioning compels the administration to justify its decisions, thus keeping it on its toes.
• Parliamentary Control: By reviewing the functioning of ministries and departments, these committees reinforce parliamentary control over the executive branch, ensuring that administrative actions align with public policies.
• Expert Review: The committees consist of members from both houses of Parliament and operate in a non-partisan manner. Their insights bring expertise to administrative processes, which fosters a culture of reverence for parliamentary scrutiny.
• Transparency and Accountability: These committees demand reports and evidence-based reviews, which often highlight inefficiencies or shortcomings. As a result, the administration is pushed to improve its functioning.

Evaluation of the working of such committees

• Effectiveness in Reviewing Budgets: For example, the Standing Committee on Finance often reviews budget proposals in great detail. This helps in checking government spending and suggesting reallocations that better serve public interests.
• Case Study – GST Implementation: The Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance played a significant role during the review and discussions of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill. Their inputs helped refine certain provisions of the bill.
• Delays in Actionable Changes: While these committees make critical recommendations, the challenge remains that their suggestions are often not binding. An example can be seen in recommendations on labor reforms, where actionable steps are delayed.
• Strengthening Sectoral Knowledge: Department-related committees on health and family welfare contributed significantly to policies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their regular questioning of the Health Ministry ensured that the administration maintained public health standards.

Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committees play a crucial role in keeping the administration on its toes and inspiring reverence for parliamentary control. Their oversight and accountability mechanisms help in ensuring good governance and transparency in the functioning of government departments.